2012-11-30

Romeo and Juliet in SL

I think I must not tell about the sad love story of the most famous couple in theatre history. Nino Vichan loves theatre and expressed interesting insights about virtualtity and reality for my article in the current AVENUE issue, don't miss reading it. After building Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice at LEA it was only natural to build a work about this tragic love drama.



Very interesting is especially how he placed the scenes. You see three key scenes of the piece by sitting on one of the chairs. It not only takes camera control, it starts as well a sound / music fitting to the scene.



To me, Romeo and Juliet fits very good into SL as almost all love stories here end tragic. Ok, not because of rival families ;)

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Myhns%20Land/72/67/29

2012-11-29

Italian Futurism


At Aneli's Gallery has opened a new exhibition with several interesting artists. The sculptures of Myhns Mayo especially caught me. They are well done rebuilds or inspired by works of the Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero. Especially in the last time there has been several works which has been inspired by him and the more I saw his works, the more I ask myself why I know almost nothing about Depero, which was obviously an important artist.


The answer came very fast after a bit of digging: The Italian Futurism was very close to fascism.
The movement has started by the manifesto, written 1909 by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.

MANIFESTO OF FUTURISM

1. We want to sing the love of danger, the habit of energy and rashness.

2. The essential elements of our poetry will be courage, audacity and revolt.

3. Literature has up to now magnified pensive immobility, ecstasy and slumber. We want to exalt movements of aggression, feverish sleeplessness, the double march, the perilous leap, the slap and the blow with the fist.

4. We declare that the splendor of the world has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing automobile with its bonnet adorned with great tubes like serpents with explosive breath... a roaring motor car which seems to run on machine-gun fire, is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace.

5. We want to sing the man at the wheel, the ideal axis of which crosses the earth, itself hurled along its orbit.

6. The poet must spend himself with warmth, glamour and prodigality to increase the enthusiastic fervor of the primordial elements.

7. Beauty exists only in struggle. There is no masterpiece that has not an aggressive character. Poetry must be a violent assault on the forces of the unknown, to force them to bow before man.

8. We are on the extreme promontory of the centuries! What is the use of looking behind at the moment when we must open the mysterious shutters of the impossible? Time and Space died yesterday. We are already living in the absolute, since we have already created eternal, omnipresent speed.

9. We want to glorify war - the only cure for the world - militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of the anarchists, the beautiful ideas which kill, and contempt for woman.

10. We want to demolish museums and libraries, fight morality, feminism and all opportunist and utilitarian cowardice.

11. We will sing of the great crowds agitated by work, pleasure and revolt; the multi-colored and polyphonic surf of revolutions in modern capitals: the nocturnal vibration of the arsenals and the workshops beneath their violent electric moons: the gluttonous railway stations devouring smoking serpents; factories suspended from the clouds by the thread of their smoke; bridges with the leap of gymnasts flung across the diabolic cutlery of sunny rivers: adventurous steamers sniffing the horizon; great-breasted locomotives, puffing on the rails like enormous steel horses with long tubes for bridle, and the gliding flight of aeroplanes whose propeller sounds like the flapping of a flag and the applause of enthusiastic crowds. It is in Italy that we are issuing this manifesto of ruinous and incendiary violence, by which we today are founding Futurism, because we want to deliver Italy from its gangrene of professors, archaeologists, tourist guides and antiquaries. Italy has been too long the great second-hand market. We want to get rid of the innumerable museums...


I found this manifesto rather shocking and understood why in Germany after WW2 nobody dared to admire members of that group, as good as their art might have been. And I also understand that the Italian artists needed a radical cut to their huge artistic heritage to land in contemporary art. But with topics like fight against feminism and glorification of violence, the manifesto was and is much more dangerous. Depero even wrote some fascist lyrics.

At the end are remaining some questions, I still have no answer for: The manifesto itself demands a political role of art and art cannot be seen independent from social reality.  What, if we cannot accept their opinion? Is it OK to admire their art? But on the other side: Is it OK to ignore an outstanding artist just because of his opinion? And do we really want to have artists which don't express what they think instead?

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Boom/167/223/205

  

2012-11-27

Sneak Preview: The Circuit


Inspired by the power circuit and the data flow in a computer, Betty Tureaud created her latest installation. The colours at the different stages are again of an overwhelming beauty. I took loads of photos.


At the last station, the visitors can sit on light bubbles and flow with the energy.

Ultraviolet Alter will perform at the opening and Betty is looking forward to a great event.

Opening Friday at 2 PM SLT  feat. Ultraviolet Alter.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danish%20Visions/180/228/3828

2012-11-25

Gallery Hopping

Scottius Polke / Scott Rolfe: AESSEMBLAGE

Everyone who knows the cute little otter, loves him. Not only because he is a very nice person, but also because his art has something nice, smart and cute. In RL he does drawings, paintings and assembles artworks from old items and gives them a surprising and new meaning. The last months he was busy building scenes based on Aesop's Fables. The result is this book:


Find more on his website. Fot the presentation of the book Scottius in SL opened an exhibition which shows the virtual versions of some of the book scenes and other SL works of him.


One does not know a lot about the Greek Aesop, who lived around 600 A.D. It is not even sure if he has written all of the fables. But without any doubt they are a collection of short stories which reveal human weaknesses and adds eternal wisdom. Here an example:



The Crow and the Pitcher

A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. At last, at last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.
Little by little does the trick.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Able/118/122/23


Dark Journey by JadeYu Fhang




JadeYu's images are intense, disturbing, confusing and very well presented in the Nitroglobus gallery.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Costa%20Blanco/201/117/771

Rock Opera "The Change" Today

The Premiere of the show  is a while ago and I remember that the large audience included me was very thrilled. "The Change" has a choice of great music combined with well done scenes and a good story. Much work and many good ideas are behind the show. Due to rl issues until it took a while ti starting presenting it regularly.


The show will be presented each Sunday at 1 PM starting from today and I really can recommend it. I had much lag at the first visit, so see here some photos taken from Tim Deschanel's Flickr:





"The Change" ist to be seen each Sunday at 1 PM SLT. 
You should not miss it!




2012-11-22

Violence Against Women

It is the 3rd year now that the Italian community supports with the event 2Lei the "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women" in SL. Sadly still an important theme. There is a dangerous tendency in the Western World to excuse suppression and violence against women either as "cultural heritage", or as "life style". Just have a look at the countless BDSM places in Second Life! It is shocking how many women still do not comprehend the bad game on their costs  or cannot escape. Many of them already experienced violence and/or abuse in childhood. A theme, that those "life stylers" usually do not want to hear.

2Lei again is held at many places. At each one of them you find a board that gives event information and a teleport HUD. I visited a few places. Not all deal with the theme, but many nice and interesting works are to be seen.


Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Solaris%20Island/222/161/24



I was especially touched by "Liquid Song", an installation by CapCat Ragu and Meilo Minotaur. "With their usual poetic language CapCat and Meilo can be referring to women in pain desire to disappear, dissolve theirselves in water. Water is the main principle in our body, but it is tears too, it is amniotic fluid... water flows without end, it's rain, it's sea, it's river... it's an element that see human's history without partecipate in it... How can be helpful to imagine us as water when we are suffering?" (taken from the note card). The fragile structures in subtle colors has to be found. Little by little they reveal pain and suffer in their expression.


For I am mist
For I am frost
I want to go back to my liquid form

I want to melt
I want to drop
I want to go back to my liquid form

For I am mist
For I am frost
I want to go back to my liquid form

I want to rain
I want to river
I want to go back to my liquid form

For I am mist
For I am frost
I want to go back to my liquid form


Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Solaris%20Island/226/191/3693







2012-11-20

Limina

Recently, I visited "Limina :: Birth of Mecha" at LEA29 and have been excited about the sounds by Tony and the beautiful builds by Xineohp Guisse and WhatDuh Freck.


Wizardoz Chrome has taken wonderful photos. Enjoy:








Currently all destinations of the landing platform and flights with the bees lead to the ground but more are to come. The grand opening is scheduled for Dec. 22nd but it is already worth a visit.

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA29/119/129/293

2012-11-18

I see....


jjccc Coronet has removed his large and opulent installation and it is replaced by minimalism. Cher Lyric has built Concrete Cube Light and I am sure that this installation soon will be a mecca for photographers.





Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA17/141/113/22

Firestorm Beta with Phototools is out

Ansariel Hiller, part of the Phoenix/Firestorm team, taken by William Weaver

Usually you do not get technical informations here, but this is something special which should be interesting for many artists: The Phototools, written by William Weaver, are a huge help for all photographers in SL. Last night has been published a Beta Version of the Firestorm Viewer. Besides many upgrading it has integrated the Phototool. If you are brave enough to try a Beta you should download it here.

To find the tool you need to open the Toolbar Buttons by right mouse click on the bar. I should add that the tool can be used at all levels of performance. The graphics must NOT be set on Ultra in preferences.

Have fun!





2012-11-17

Nino Vichan + Cica Ghost at AVENUE

Last night has been published the latest issue of AVENUE with many interesting articles. I love especially the Baroque Fashion.

                             

                         
You find two articles written by me this month:

 SHAKESPEARE IN PRIMS

Nino Vichan has created his full sim installation 'Cries and Whispers' about two Shakespeare pieces: The Merchant of Venice + Macbeth. Nino was an interesting interview partner. His words about realities are thought-provoking. Get here the direct link to the article.

 Taxi to the installation: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA28/213/204/21  CICA
Cica Ghost's intruiging installation is already a huge succes. in the article she tells how she became artist in SL. Piedra Lubitsch took great photos. Get here the direct link to the article. Taxi to the installation:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA13/158/21/21

2012-11-16

Machinima Expo Starts Today


A while ago Tutsy Navaratha sent me this trailer produced by him which made me aware of a 3-day-event that starts today: The Machinima Expo. More than 70 videos are shown. You can follow the program inworld or on the website. Find the schedule here.

And sorry, you need to hear some rants today. You cannot image how much time and effort it took me to get those simple information's. It is still a huge challenge to get at least a rough overview over the most important cultural events in SL. Most organizers believe in creating their own inworld groups or as in this case to post the information's scattered on the website and in facebook instead of professional marketing. I got no press release, nothing. But even the tiniest gallery invites me into her group. Sadly a blogger has only 42 group spaces too. At the end they wonder why nobody is coming after all that huge amount of preparation work and the audience misses a great event. If I could not rely on the nice people in my friendlist, this blog often would be unwritten. Thank you Tutsy!

The Expo starts at 9 AM SLT!

Taxi:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Reverie/141/151/26

 

2012-11-15

Meta Body II - Art Project at Delicatessen

Have a look at this interesting project:


"Meta_Body II - it's your turn to build it...

Having the Meta_Body project avatars as a starting point, we would like to invite you to share with us and with all the metaverse your derivative avatars.

Meilo Minotaur and CapCat Ragu await your avatars submission to build a new installation at Delicatessen to distribute them.

- You can use any of the parts of the project Meta_Body avatars;
- You can use parts built by you;
- You can use parts built by other developers since its license allows redistribution with full permissions;
- All avatars must be provided with full permissions, this means copyable, shareable and transformable;
- The avatars should be sent in a box to MeiloCapCat avatar in Second Life;
- The box should be named after your avatar, followed by MB2;
- All avatars must be submitted by 30 November 2012.

Thank you!"

This is the text in CapCat Ragu's and Meilo Minotaur's blog. And of course it was once again Eupalinos Ugajin who made me aware of it. I met him today with this stunning avatar, created by him:

Taken from Eupalinos' Flickr stream
Taken from CapCat Ragu's Flickr stream
 In CapCat's Flickr are already more contributions. I love the one from Alpha Auer:

Taken from CapCat Ragu's Flickr stream

More information in the Delicatessen blog and in the Flickr group.

Take your free avatars full perm here and create your own: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Porto/134/110/703


2012-11-14

2D Art in Virtual Interpretation

2D art uploaded into a virtual world usually appears pale and is (besides some exceptions) not really amazing to see, as good as the work can be in RL. The huge difference between RL and SL is that in RL we experience an artwork from outside. Usually we are not allowed to touch it or we cannot even come near. On the other side we see and feel the structure of the surface and the radiance of the materials. On the other hand in SL we can dive into a work, become part of it. We get another view at the work and in the best case a more intense relationship with the work. That is what we call immersive experience in virtual art. Therefore it makes sense to me, to build RL 2D works as virtual 3D. SaveMe Oh did that recently with her interesting exhibition Rooms, where she concentrated on the later photo shots with the typical humorous twist. Check her Flickr stream or at pinterest to see the results.

Yesterday opened at LEA the rebuild of a famous painting:


Guernica by Pablo Picasso is one of the most important artworks of the last century. It was referring to one of the first aerial bombings worldwide in April 1937 during the Spanish Civil War by German and Italian warplanes (Hitler and Mussolini) which supported the later Spanish dictator Franco to overthrow the Basque Government and the Spanish Republican government. The town was devastated. The mural was initially exhibited in July 1937 at the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris International Exposition. The Pavilion, was financed by the Spanish Republican government. The painting, full of symbolism, became itself an important symbol against war.


Lizzie Gudkov and London Junkers created this work for Second Life in 3D. It is really impressive to have an immersive experience of the monumental painting. It is excellent built and worth a look. Especially because it helps to appreciate the details of the work. 


Taxi to Guernica. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA6/67/126/30

Here is is another example:


This is a painting by the Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero: Moon Dancers. nexuno Thespian went beyond the idea of 3D building. With his work he interprets the original in his typical "nexuno style". I enjoyed to walk around in it.

Taken by nexuno Thespian
Taxi:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Galleria/133/178/33

2012-11-13

Beauty and Fun


It is time to admit something. I am not a gamer at all! Since childhood I usually hated to play and always preferred to do something that made sense to me instead of wasting my time with a given stupid goal or role playing. My family was believing that I will become a bad mother, because my dolls stayed in the corner. And I was famous for getting upset in board games! Very seldom a game gets me and I am addicted for a short while. Therefore I am convinced that Second Life is not a game, because if it where, I would have left it after a week.


Dont't ask me how I made it to become blogger for Madpea and to stay already for almost a year. I suppose I was good in hiding my weakness, because the high quality fascinated me from the beginning and I still have a passion for MadPea. Luckily the team has patience with me, when I stuck again in a game half exhausted and half upset :)


So, I was not that excited when I got the blogger pack for the Garden Game last week. But of course I was curious and the beauty of the setting is so breathtaking nice, that writing about the game was a must. But taking photos as well is a challenge at this place, because there is so much. I met Trill Zapatero here today and she said laughing:  "You could spend a week taking photos here or make it your life's work."  So true!


But spending the hours there; I started to find the requested artifacts and to click the statues. They all give hints and you can click the HUD once for negative and by doubleclick for positive statements. And along with taking the photos I solved the puzzle. It was really fun and I could not stop at the end before I got all.



At the landing point you get a free demo HUD which allows you to play only once, or you purchase the full version. The HUD allows playing together with others. The artifacts and the statues you have to find are displayed there and if all that together with the well written note card leaves questions, you can watch a video too: http://thegardenwhispers.com



My summary: An absolute beautiful sim and a well made game. A must for all photographers and gamers in SL, but also for all who just enjoy beautiful places and like to explore them.


Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Seven%20Veils/228/218/8